Scientists with the US Air Force Research Laboratory and the Pentagon’s research arm are working to build a new hypersonic air vehicle that can travel at speeds up to Mach 5 while carrying guidance systems and other materials. Air Force Chief Scientist Mica Endsley said the service wants to build upon the successful hypersonic test flight of the X-51 Waverider 60,000 feet above the Pacific Ocean in May of 2013.
Category Archives: News
Southampton University Joins ASSURE
The University of Southampton has been selected as the sole UK partner to help operate the new National Center of Excellence for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (COE UAS) in the United States.
US Air Force Special Ops Activates RPA Launch Unit
After its brief tenure as a squadron detachment here, the 12th Special Operations Squadron officially stood up to continue their mission of launch and recovery of remotely piloted aircraft during an official activation ceremony last Thursday.
Boeing Gets Patent to Charge Drones Midair
Boeing was recently warded a patent to charge a drone midair. The patent describes the use of drones equipped with tethers that can connect with ground-based power supplies while they’re still airborne, to recharge their batteries on the go. Continue reading
Australian Herons to Operate in Civil Airspace
The Royal Australian Air Force will fly its Heron Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) in civilian airspace for the first time in June, after signing a Memorandum of Agreement with Australia’s airspace control body, Airservices Australia.
Flight Operations Engineer at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center
Operations engineers at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center help to advance science, technology, aeronautics, and space exploration by managing operational aspects of a flight research project. They serve as the governing authority on airworthiness related to the modification, operation, or maintenance of specialized research or support aircraft so those aircraft can be flown safely without jeopardizing the pilots, persons on the ground or the flight test project. Continue reading
Fire Department Uses Quadcopter in Searches
Spend a little time at the baseball fields on Bedford Avenue and you might catch a glimpse of a DJI Phantom 2 drone touching down on the pitcher’s mound before lifting off to make a sweep around the Elks National Home.
Enrique Iglesias Slices Finger Reaching for Drone
Latin pop singer Enrique Iglesias learned the hard way that one shouldn’t just reach and grab drones, even when they’re flying around you.